FINANCIAL AID
Fletcher provides financial assistance to students from a variety of sources to help meet their educational expenses. Student eligibility for financial aid is considered on a case-by-case basis, and a concerted effort is made to maximize and individualize assistance for each applicant. Any student unable to pay for college using personal or family resources should apply for financial aid in the form of grants, loans, scholarships, and employment opportunities.
Financial aid is based on enrollment status. A student may be enrolled as a full-time student, a three-fourths time student, a half-time student, or a less than half-time student. Financial aid credit hour designations for ALL semesters are as follows:
12+ credit hours = Full-time student
9-11 credit hours = Three-fourth time student
6-8 credit hours = Half-time student
5 or less credit hours = Less than half-time student
TYPES OF FINANCIAL AID AVAILABLE
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is a form that should be completed online annually by current and prospective students and/or their parents. The FAFSA is used to determine eligibility for federal student financial aid.
The FAFSA consists of several questions regarding the student’s finances. Questions regarding the parents’ finances may also need to be answered. In addition to questions regarding finances, questions regarding family size, number in college, and other information are used in determining the Expected Family Contribution (EFC).
A Student Aid Report (SAR) is forwarded to the student once the FAFSA is completed and processed. A SAR is a summary of the FAFSA responses. Students should review their SAR and make any necessary corrections. An electronic version of the SAR is sent to the colleges that the student lists on the FAFSA.
TITLE IV FINANCIAL AID INFORMATION
Title IV financial aid is a federal financial aid that is authorized under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965. In order to be eligible for Title IV financial aid, a student must
• fully complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
• have a high school diploma from a state-approved high school or an equivalent.
• have completed homeschooling at the secondary level.
• be enrolling in a program of choice to fulfill a goal of certificate or degree.
• (if male) register with the U.S. Selective Service or be exempt.
• not engage in the unlawful manufacture, distribution, dispensing, possession, or use of a controlled substance during the period covered by financial aid.
• not owe a repayment or an overpayment to Title IV. A student and/or student’s parent(s) must not be in default on Stafford (GSL), SLS, PLUS, or any other educational loan.
• not receive Title IV funds for no more than 150% of the number of credit hours required for the student’s program of choice.
• not receive funds while enrolled for more than 30 credit hours of developmental courses.
• maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP).
These developmental hours are counted in determining the 150% maximum hours. Students who continue to be enrolled after having pursued 30 credit hours of developmental courses will receive aid based on the number of non-developmental courses in which they are enrolled for that semester.
SATISFACTORY ACADEMIC PROGRESS (SAP) POLICY
Federal regulations require the college to establish and apply reasonable standards of satisfactory academic progress for the purpose of the receipt of financial assistance under the programs authorized by Title IV of the Higher Education Act. The law requires institutions to develop policies regarding satisfactory academic progress (SAP). Each institution must design criteria that outline the definition of student progress toward a degree and the consequences to the student if progress is not achieved. Fletcher students who wish to be considered for financial assistance must maintain satisfactory progress in their selected course of study as set forth in this policy.
Title IV financial aid programs include: Pell Grant, Federal Direct Student Loan, Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG), and Work-Study. The requirements of this policy apply to all students as one determinant of eligibility for financial aid.
MINIMUM STANDARDS
To remain eligible for Title IV aid, students must meet the standards indicated below at the conclusion of each semester. At the conclusion of each semester, students must earn the minimum cumulative GPA, minimum number of credit hours, and be within the maximum timeframe. Failure to meet the minimum cumulative standards may result in a loss of financial aid eligibility.
QUALITATIVE MEASURE OF PROGRESS
The qualitative requirement sets a minimum Cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA). This is the GPA used to determine one’s status and includes grades from courses taken at all other schools. To remain in compliance, a student must maintain a 2.0 cumulative GPA at the end of each semester.
QUANTITATIVE MEASURE OF PROGRESS
The quantitative requirement contains two components:
Pace of Progression/Completion Rate. The credit hour completion rate reflects the pace at which students must progress to ensure that they are able to complete their degree program within the maximum timeframe. The pace of progression is calculated by dividing the cumulative number of hours the student has successfully completed by the cumulative number of hours the student has attempted. All students must earn 67% of all hours attempted. Note: This is a cumulative calculation and includes credits attempted at all schools.
Maximum Timeframe. The maximum timeframe for students to complete their degree cannot exceed 150% of the published length of the academic program. Hours are counted starting with the semester the student entered school, even those semesters in which he/she did not receive financial aid.
Quantitative measures of progress are affected by the following:
Hours Attempted. Hours attempted include all hours pursued in the student’s career and are counted in the maximum timeframe whether or not financial aid was received. Attempted hours also include the following: withdrawals, incompletes, failing grades, remedial coursework, repeated coursework, and transfer credits.
Repeated Coursework. Students are allowed to repeat a previously passed course and have it count toward enrollment for financial aid eligibility only once. However, all repeats count against the maximum timeframe (total attempted credits).
Dropped or Withdrawn Courses. Drops and/or withdrawals do not affect a student’s cumulative GPA for SAP, but count as credit hours attempted toward both pace and maximum timeframe. Incomplete Grades: At the time of evaluation (the conclusion of each semester), incompletes (grade of “I”) do not influence a student’s cumulative GPA for SAP, but count as credit hours attempted toward both pace and maximum timeframe. For financial aid purposes, incomplete (“I”) grades equal “F” until removed.
Transfer Credit. Transfer credits and credits taken while cross-enrolled count toward a student’s cumulative GPA and attempted and earned credit hours, therefore, impacting the maximum timeframe and a student’s pace/completion rate.
Change of Major: Credits earned under all majors will be included in the calculation of attempted, earned, and maximum timeframe credits, as well as the GPA calculation.
Developmental/Remedial Coursework. Developmental/Remedial hours are included in the total hours attempted, and if successfully completed, hours earned. Students may receive financial aid for 30 hours of developmental courses. Students taking developmental courses in excess of 30 hours are not eligible to receive financial aid for these courses. Once the limit is reached, eligibility is determined based on the student’s enrollment in non-developmental courses.
Grades, Hours Earned, and Grade Point Average. Students will receive a grade for each course at the end of the semester. Passing grades are: A, B, C, D, and S. Grades that are not passing are: F, I, U, AU, and W. See the Catalog for a more detailed description of the grading system and an explanation of how a grade point average is computed.
Audited Coursework. Students may not receive financial aid for audited courses.
Academic Amnesty. All attempted hours will be included in determining a student’s financial aid eligibility. However, coursework included in an academic amnesty does NOT count in earned hours. This means that the completion rate of a student with an academic renewal will be adversely affected.
EVALUATION OF SAP
The minimum progress standards will be checked at the conclusion of each semester. At the conclusion of each semester, students must earn the minimum cumulative GPA, minimum number of credit hours, and be within the maximum timeframe. At the time of each evaluation, a student who has not achieved the required GPA, or who is not successfully completing his or her educational program at the required pace, is no longer eligible to receive assistance under the Title IV programs unless the student has appealed and has been placed on financial aid probation.
Students who are no longer eligible for Title IV assistance will be notified regarding their SAP status at the conclusion of each semester. Using the qualitative and quantitative measures of progress, a student may be placed in one of the following SAP statuses:
(1) NEW - student is attending college for the first time, this includes students who received credit (1) before earning a high school diploma (or equivalent), (2) for completing tests or assessments, or (3) for life experience or military service
(2) TRANS- student is enrolling in the college for the first time and has previously attended another postsecondary institution.
(3) GOOD - student meets all three standards and is eligible to receive federal financial aid
(4) WARN - student failed to meet at least one of the standards at the end of the previous payment period and the student was in “good” or “new” standing during that previous payment period
(5) APLAN – student failed to meet SAP, was granted an appeal, is placed on an Academic Plan
(6) BAD- student is not meeting SAP and is not eligible to receive federal financial aid for the next payment period of enrollment
APPEALS
If extenuating circumstances prevented a student from meeting the requirements of SAP, an appeal may be filed. The appeal must be submitted with accompanying documentation to Enrollment Services using the online SAP appeal. All supporting documents will be retained in the student’s financial aid file. Fletcher’s Satisfactory Progress Academic Appeal Form may be found on the Financial Aid home page under Links.
A student’s appeal must explain the circumstances that prevented him/her from making SAP and the reasons for the basis of this appeal. The student must address the following:
• what the problem was
• when did the problem occur
• how long did the problem last
• how did this affect his/her ability to complete coursework
• the steps taken to ensure that the minimum standards will be met at the next evaluation
If a student cannot meet the minimum cumulative standards within one period of enrollment, an appeal may NOT be approved without the generation of an academic plan. The academic plan must demonstrate how the student will meet the SAP standards by a specific point in time. If the student deviates from the academic plan, financial aid eligibility will be suspended.
In order to be eligible for financial aid for a semester in which financial aid has been suspended, an appeal must be granted. To ensure that an appeal is reviewed, students must submit their appeal in a timely manner. It is the responsibility of the student to pay all outstanding balances on his/her account while waiting for an appeal decision. Regardless of the appeal decision, students are responsible for any late fees incurred. Just because an appeal is submitted does not mean that the appeal will be granted. If a student chooses to enroll in classes before a decision is made by the appeal committee, the student is personally responsible for any charges with the Business Office for that term. If the appeal is granted after the term has started, the student could possibly be reimbursed for the charges should he or she have financial aid eligibility.
Examples of extenuating circumstances include, but are not limited to, the following:
• Prolonged illness, medical condition, or injury to student or immediate family member
• Death of an immediate family member
• Extenuating circumstances beyond the student’s control
Examples of supporting documentation include, but are not limited to, the following:
• Physician’s letters and hospital records (must include dates of illness and recovery time)
• Death certificate or obituary
• Court or police documents
• Letters from third party professional counselors on his or her letterhead
Regardless of extenuating circumstances, the Appeal Committee has a right to deny an appeal based on a pattern of poor performance and/or withdrawals. The committee may also deny eligibility reinstatement after they determine a student has submitted forged or altered documents.
APPEAL GRANTED/ACADEMIC PLAN
If a student cannot meet the minimum cumulative standards within one period of enrollment, an appeal may not be approved without the generation of an academic plan. The academic plan must demonstrate how the student will meet the SAP standards by a specific point in time. If the student deviates from the academic plan, financial aid eligibility will be suspended.
In order to be eligible for financial aid for a semester in which financial aid has been suspended, an appeal must be granted. To ensure that an appeal is reviewed, students must submit their appeal in a timely manner. It is the responsibility of the student to pay all outstanding balances on his or her account while waiting for an appeal decision. Regardless of the appeal decision, students are responsible for any late fees incurred.
SUBMITTING AN APPEAL DOES NOT MEAN THAT THE APPEAL WILL BE GRANTED. IF A STUDENT CHOOSES TO ENROLL IN CLASSES BEFORE A DECISION IS MADE BY THE APPEAL COMMITTEE, THE STUDENT IS PERSONALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY CHARGES WITH THE BUSINESS OFFICE FOR THAT TERM. IF THE APPEAL IS GRANTED AFTER THE TERM HAS STARTED, THE STUDENT COULD POSSIBLY BE REIMBURSED FOR THE CHARGES SHOULD HE OR SHE HAVE FINANCIAL AID ELIGIBILITY.
Note: Financial aid appeals are NOT the same as academic appeals. Students are ineligible for financial aid while academically suspended from Fletcher.
REESTABLISHING SAP
If an appeal is denied or is not submitted, a student may regain financial aid eligibility by making SAP. The student must personally pay for each period of enrollment until the minimum cumulative GPA and pace requirements are met. The student will regain eligibility for future periods of enrollment after reestablishing the minimum SAP standards.
ENROLLMENT STATUS
When you register for classes, your enrollment status will be based on the number of credit hours for which you enroll. For financial aid purposes, enrollment status for all semesters is based on the following:
12+ credit hours = Full-time student
9-11 credit hours = Three-fourths time student
6-8 credit hours = Half-time student
5 or less credit hours = Less than half-time student
Your enrollment status is NOT official until after Census Day, which is the 14th class day in the fall/spring semesters and 7th class day for summer semesters. After the Census Day, in a given semester, your enrollment status is set, and this status is used in determining award amounts and minimum number of hours to complete. Because your financial aid is based on your enrollment status as of the Census Day, disbursements begin on or around the 20th semester class day.
ATTENDANCE
As a recipient of federal funds, you must attend all courses if you want to keep your financial assistance. Failure to attend class could result in a reduction or cancellation of your aid. You could be required to repay some or all of your financial aid, and you could lose your eligibility for future assistance.
GRANTS
A student who is eligible for federal financial aid may receive one or more of the following grants:
Pell Grant (Title IV). The Federal Pell Grant Program provides need-based grants to low-income undergraduate students. Grant amounts depend on the student’s EFC, the cost of attendance (COA), and the student’s enrollment status. Pell grants do not have to be repaid. Applicants may need to submit documentation to Enrollment Services before aid can be awarded. Once a financial aid packet is complete, the student will receive an award notice. Grant disbursements are made on approximately the 20th class day of a semester and thereafter.
Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FEDERAL AID). A Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) is a grant for undergraduate students with exceptional financial need. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the application that determines eligibility and financial need for the grant. Students who have the most financial need will receive SEOG first. SEOG does not have to be repaid but is not guaranteed. There is limited funding as this is an allocation of campus based funding from the federal government.
GO Grant. (State Aid). The purpose of the Louisiana Go Grant Program is to provide a need-based component to the state’s financial aid plan to support nontraditional and low to moderate-income students who need additional aid to afford the cost of attending college. Additional information on the GO grant is available at www.osfa.state.la.us.
SCHOLARSHIPS
Scholarships that may be available to a student at Fletcher are available at www.fletcher.edu.
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FEDERAL WORK STUDY (FWS)
The Federal Work Study program is a federally-funded financial aid program that enables students who have financial need (as determined by the FAFSA) to earn money for college costs by working on campus. FWS encourages community service, so off-campus jobs in the community may also be available. Students participating in FWS must also maintain SAP. FWS may be awarded in the fall, spring, and/or summer. Students are paid by the hour, and the amount a student earns cannot exceed the total FWS award. Applications for FWS employment are available in the Enrollment Services Office and online. Completed applications must be submitted to Enrollment Services.
ADDITIONAL AID
A student may be eligible for financial assistance from one of the organizations listed below. The student should contact the individual organization for eligibility requirements.
Career Solutions One Stop Center. At no cost to the student, the Career Solutions One Stop Center may be able to assist in meeting the costs for training. For information on eligibility, call the local One Stop Center in Houma at (985) 876-8990, in Thibodaux at (985) 446-3016, or in Napoleonville at (985) 369-1810.
Strategies to Empower People (STEP). The Strategies to Empower People program is for recipients of the Family Independence Temporary Assistance Program (FITAP) and is designed to help parents take charge of their lives through education, training, or job development leading to employment. For more information, contact the Louisiana Workforce Commission at (985) 876-8990 or 1-800-351-4378.
Catholic Social Services (CSS). CSS provides various types of assistance dependent upon the student’s need. Call (985) 876-0490 for additional information.
Inter-Tribal. Registered Native American students who enroll in training conducted in an institutional setting may be eligible to receive funding from Inter-Tribal. Contact the Inter-Tribal Council of LA, Inc. at (985) 851-5408.
Louisiana Rehabilitation Services (LRS). LRS is a state agency whose purpose is to assist persons with a disabling condition(s) that may be a barrier to employment or training. Additional information can be obtained by calling (985) 857-3652.
National Guard Tuition Exemption. Contact the FAO at (985) 448-7908 for more information.
United Houma Nations. United Houma Nations provides various types of assistance to Registered Native American students dependent upon the student’s need. Call (985) 876-0490 for additional information.
Veterans Education Benefits (VA). Those eligible for VA Educational Benefits should go online to www.va.gov to complete an application to receive benefits or contact the FAO at Fletcher. Certificates of eligibility should be presented to the FAO. Call 1-800-827-1000 for more information regarding education benefits.
Veterans Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment. This program helps veterans with service-connected disabilities prepare for and find jobs within their physical, mental, and emotional capabilities. Additional information is available at www.vba.va.gov or by calling (504) 619-4346.
STUDENT LOANS (TITLE IV)
Direct Loans are low-interest loans for students and parents to help pay for the cost of a student’s education. The lender is the U.S. Department of Education (the Department), though most of the contact will be with your loan servicer. With Direct Loans, a student borrows directly from the federal government and has a single contact—the loan servicer—for everything related to repayment, even if the student receives Direct Loans at different schools. The student has online access to his/her Direct Loan account information via the servicer’s website. The student can choose from several repayment plans, and the repayment plan can be switched if the student’s needs change.
HARDSHIP WAIVERS OF TUITION AND FEES
An application process has been established to address cases of financial need to be applied to tuition and fee increases when specified by Legislation, including the Academic Excellence Fee and the Operation Fee. To be eligible for a tuition/fee waiver, the student must
• be a Louisiana resident.
• apply for and accept all Federal and State financial aid for which he/she qualifies.
• have tuition and fees that are not covered, or fully covered by another source of financial assistance such as Pell, TOPS, or other grants in order of greatest need
• submit the application at least one day prior to the payment deadline date as published for the respective semester. The Tuition/Fee Waiver Application detailing the process is available on the website at: fletcher.edu/assets/docs/TuitionandFees/TuitionFeeHardshipApp.pdf.
FINANCIAL AID STUDENT RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
As a recipient of financial aid, there are certain rights and responsibilities of which students should be aware.
Students have the right to know
• the financial aid programs available at Fletcher.
• the application process that must be followed to be considered for aid.
• the criteria used to select recipients and calculate need.
• Fletcher’s refund and repayment policy.
• the financial aid policies surrounding satisfactory academic progress (SAP).
• special facilities and services available for the handicapped.
Students are responsible for
• completing all forms accurately by the published deadline dates.
• submitting information requested by the FAO staff in a timely manner.
• keeping the FAO informed of any changes in address, name, marital status, financial situation, or student status.
• reporting to the FAO any additional assistance from non-college sources such as scholarships, fellowships, and educational benefits.
• maintaining SAP.
• re-applying for aid each year.
Federal law protects confidentiality of information submitted to the Financial Aid Office.
FINANCIAL AID CODE OF CONDUCT
The primary goal of the Louisiana Community and Technical College System (LCTCS) student financial aid professional is to assist students in achieving their educational goals by assisting them in the efforts to access appropriate financial resources. For the most part, the LCTCS institutions, including Fletcher, rely on United States Department of Education Title IV PELL funds to meet these needs. However, clearly, it is the expectation of the LCTCS that all financial aid professionals will adhere to those principles set-forth by the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators and will abide by the following Financial Aid Code of Conduct as approved by the Board of Supervisors.
Financial Aid Administrators employed by the LCTCS will
• refrain from taking any action for personal benefit. This includes the individual, or a member of the family, ever accepting cash payments, stocks, club memberships, gifts, entertainment, expense-paid trips, or other forms of inappropriate remuneration from any business entity involved in any aspect of student financial aid.
• refrain from taking any action contrary to law, regulation, or the best interests of the students and parents.
• ensure that the information provided to students and parents is accurate, unbiased, and does not reflect any preference arising from actual or potential personal gain.
• be objective in making decisions and advising the institution regarding relationships with any entity involved in any aspect of student financial aid.
• refrain from soliciting or accepting anything other than nominal value ($10) from a student loan provider. This includes meals, travel, lodging, entertainment, and in-kind services.
• disclose to the institution any involvement with or interest in any entity involved in any aspect of student financial aid. It is the obligation of the financial aid professional to abide by the LCTCS conflict of interest policy.